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Electronics at Home: The Fulton Homes Drop Zone

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Drop-ZoneWhen you move into a new Fulton Home, one of the first steps is deciding where to charge your electronic gear – phones, tablets and laptops. The Fulton Drop Zone provides the perfect solution.

This example of a Drop Zone, from Peninsula at Freeman Farms, has charging space, with a counter large enough to hold everything. Cabinets, shelves and drawers allow you to keep purses, backpacks, briefcases, keys and all those things you seem to lose in the morning on the way to work or school.

The Drop Zone fits just inside house from the garage. It provides an immediate reminder to drop your outdoor gear and recharge anything that is running low on energy. You may want to assign space to every family member so that homework and other essentials are available when needed.

The cabinetry and counters will coordinate with your kitchen or other built-ins, and it can be designed to your specifications. This also may be a good storage place for big-box-store items or family essentials.

As you live in your home, you will find more and more uses for this option. So often a long day makes you ready to relax and get comfy once you’re home. Put your slippers on a bottom shelf so that you can switch immediately when you walk in, and maybe that drawer on the left should hold your stash of emergency chocolate for quick recovery after a particularly rough day at work.

Electronics at Home: Internet Safety

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8068780_SWhen your children use the Internet, a world of information and entertainment opens for them. But with the advantages come risks, and you want to make sure your children stay safe. There are a wealth of books and Internet resources designed to help you understand the risks and help your children use the Internet safely and well. Here are just a few beginning steps:

Set ground rules: Include issues such as how much time your children can spend online; what kinds of uses they can make of the Internet, and what kinds of websites they can access. There are also search engines that are designed to be safe for children.

Keep computers in your home’s public spaces: You want to be able to look over your child’s shoulder as they work, to make sure they are not getting into trouble. This may mean assigning a space for your home computer or computers such as a corner of the dining room or the desk in the kitchen.

Discuss the risks: Explain that the person they’re chatting with could be lying and someone posing as a young girl or boy may be an adult predator. Connect the “stranger danger” lessons to the Internet also.

Set privacy limits: No photos, names and addresses, passwords, ages or phone numbers should be provided when on the Internet.

Control purchases: Make it clear that any Internet purchases should be done by you. Make sure that your children don’t have access to credit or debit cards.

Set behavior standards: The Golden Rule also fits on the Internet. No bullying, name calling, or mean gossip should be permitted. Remind them that anything that goes on the Internet, including emails, is public information and should be treated that way.

 

Electronics at Home: The Right Place(s)

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5737692_SHave a project left from work that you need to finish at home tonight? Is it hard to keep your kids focused on their homework when the weather is still so nice outside? It’s time to set your home up for anyplace laptop use.

Make your home as functional as your local coffee-shop with in-house Wi-Fi. A wireless network provides so many advantages for everyone in the family. Here are just a few:

Anywhere homework: Want your children under your eyes while they’re surfing the net? They can set themselves down at the kitchen snack bar and get their work done while you finish up dinner.

Anywhere access: You can catch up on a favorite television series online while baking cookies, or check out the day’s news while brushing your teeth in the bathroom. Can’t remember the ingredients for that soufflé? Look up Paula Deen’s version on your tablet without leaving the kitchen.

Al Fresco surfing: Get comfy on your back patio and finish up that project without having to lose the last of the luscious weather. Somehow even the tedious stuff is more enjoyable when you’re feeling the breeze and enjoying the sun as you get your work done.

A few tips: Be sure to invest in security to go along with your Wi-Fi access, so that the uninvited can’t access your Internet or your personal information. Unless you’re well-schooled in setting up a wireless network, you may want to hire a professional to make sure the new access is all fun and no trouble.

Also, remember that a wireless network allows you to pool peripherals such as printers. Having everyone in your family use the same printer means that you can afford a more expensive choice, such as a color laser printer.

Moving into a new neighborhood – Settling In

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7664690_SWithin a month or so after moving into your new Fulton Home, if you make a little effort, you’ll have gotten to know some of your neighbors. As a “veteran” homeowner, you can participate in a few ideas to strengthen your neighborhood’s connections. You may want to try one or more of these ideas.

Plan a block party. Choose a central location and a Saturday afternoon/evening. You can do a “bring your own entrée,” with grills hot and ready for cooking. Include a pot-luck for side dishes and desserts. Consider featuring a children’s table or two with party favors and a teen table with music to help normally shy youngsters to get to know each other.

Create a babysitting resource: People with young children and the teenagers looking for babysitting work will appreciate a way to connect with each other. This can either be printed or online. It would be nice to include a few parent recommendations and an idea of costs per hour and any restrictions.

Put together a roster of neighbors: Names, addresses, phone numbers and emails allow neighbors to stay in touch. This is also a good source for who to contact if you notice someone has left car lights on or something suspicious is occurring on a neighbor’s property.

Assemble a dog-tracking list: Photos of neighbor dogs, along with their names, basic behavior and names and addresses/phone numbers of owners can help lost pets find their way home quickly. Someone who is not comfortable approaching a strange dog can still contact an owner based on a photo. Dog owners will appreciate neighbors letting them know if Toby or Gracie has slipped out of the yard and is wandering loose.

Take an active role and you can help make your new Fulton neighborhood a special community for you, your family and everyone who lives there.

Moving Into a New Neighborhood – Meet the Neighbors

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11133993_SGetting to know your neighbors helps turn your new home into part of a community. Once you move into your Fulton Home, take the time to get to know your neighbors. It may seem difficult in these days of teaching your children about “stranger danger” and other worries, but a few simple steps can make the process easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

Welcome new neighbors: While most people won’t have time to chat on move-in day, it’s nice to take a few minutes to introduce yourself to neighbors as they move in. Just a simple hello and welcome from a new neighbor makes moving day so much more pleasant.

Stop by: Visit your new neighbors in the afternoon, or walk over when they are already outside. Many people are nervous about opening their doors after dusk, like the woman in the photo. You don’t want to make your neighbors uncomfortable by your visit.

Bring a treat: Home-baked cookies, lemonade on a hot day, or warm muffins or coffee cake say welcome better than words. Returning the container gives you another opportunity to interact with your new neighbors.

Take walks: Bringing your dog on a walk through the neighborhood every day or just walking by yourself in the morning or evening will provide plenty of opportunities to get to know your neighbors. Be sure to smile and acknowledge everyone you see. The people who want to be friendly will find a way to chat with you.

Be friendly: You can’t expect to be best friends with all of your neighbors, but just getting to know them well enough for a short chat can make your community a more comfortable and pleasant place. And you never know, your future best buddy may move in next door!

Moving Into a New Neighborhood – Discovery

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12197961_SWhen you move into your new Fulton home, plan on spending some time unpacking and organizing. You probably won’t feel settled until some rooms such as your kitchen and bedroom are fully set up the way you want them.

But you can start settling into your new neighborhood even before the movers arrive. With the move, you may need to shop at new grocery stores, find a new dry cleaner and gas station, and spend time getting to know your new neighborhood. You can make the transition easier for you and your family if you do a little exploring before the move. Here are a few suggestions.

Drive around: Either with your family or by yourself, take an afternoon or evening to drive around your new neighborhood. Look for convenient shopping areas. Take note of neighborhood restaurants that you might enjoy.

Stop to eat: Bring your family to eat at a local restaurant or café that looks interesting. You may even want to try a couple of places over a week or so. This may start creating the feeling that you are already part of your new community.

Visit local community places: If you are a churchgoer, you may want to consider a church near your new home. If not, look for a park with a playground or a community center. Visiting places such as these can allow you to meet some of your future neighbors and start feeling more at home.

Whatever you value in your current neighborhood, you will be able to find something like it in your new place. Take the time to explore and discover, and you can feel connected even before your home is finished.

Design Center Basics: Have Fun!

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Design 20Center 20023 designerOne of the best parts of buying a Fulton Home is selecting your options at the Fulton Home Design Center. You have the opportunity to work with a skilled designer to choose your kitchen, bathroom and flooring, making your home uniquely yours.

At first, choosing may seem overwhelming, but if you did your homework before your appointment (see the two blog posts for earlier this week) this can be a truly enjoyable experience.

Design 20Center 20059 carpetingVisiting the Design Center can feel like walking into the HGTV studios. Fulton has pre-selected suppliers and products that are reliable and provide a rich selection of styles to individualize your home. For example, look at the carpeting options available. Take your time to enjoy the various textures and tones.

One of the best features of the Fulton Homes Design Center is the well-trained and savvy designers who will work with you to help make just the right selections. Years of experience working with homebuyers to help create lovely homes provide every designer with the skills to give valuable insights and support as you make your home your own.

Whether your taste is contemporary or traditional, you’ll find the right choices of cabinetry, countertops, lighting and more. Take the time to investigate the kitchen vignettes. They may help you determine whether you want light or dark cabinetry, how much contrast you want in your kitchen and any specific color choices.

Everyone at Fulton Homes wants you to enjoy your time at the Design Center, so relax and take full advantage of this opportunity to make your home as special as you and your family are.

Design Center Basics: Browse Power

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Design20Center20078 fulton lobby - receptionistWhen you’re selecting options for your new Fulton Home, one of the best tools you have is the Fulton Home Design Center browse night. Once a week, you can visit the design center at your leisure and look at all of your home choices. Designers and other staff are on hand to answer any questions.

Browse nights are aptly named. You can take your time and sift through the choices for cabinets, flooring and other options without having to make any final decisions. If you really use the browse nights well, you may have most of your options selected before your appointment. This will allow you to take the time you need to review those choices that are harder for you to make.

Browse nights are particularly useful if you and your spouse have differing tastes. The two of you can work out compromises that you both can live happily with, and check out those options you liked online in person. This is also a good chance to see how your cabinets fit with your choice of countertops, backsplash and flooring. You may be surprised to discover that a countertop you hadn’t even considered is just the right choice.

Consider browse nights as a chance to explore all of the amazing options the Fulton Design Center offers with no need to make any permanent decisions. It’s a casual and comfortable place filled with people who want to help you make your home perfect for you. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity.

Design Center Basics: Planning Ahead

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Design20Center 20077 built insAll of the options and choices available at the Fulton Homes Design Center can be exciting and a bit overwhelming. You can make the process more fun and productive if you do a little planning ahead of time. Here are a few suggestions.

Visit the models: The Design Center has a number of vignettes to provide ideas, but there is a wealth of options visible in the models, and positioned within a home. From cabinets and countertops to faucets and built-ins, models are a wonderful resource. Spend some time and take notes of what you like in each model. You may even want to take pictures of those choices you particularly like. Bring this with you to your Design Center appointment to help your designer understand your taste and preferences.

Take advantage of browse nights: These provide time for you to look at everything available and make some preliminary choices. Designers are there to answer questions and educate you on various choices.

Visit the Design Center section on the Fulton website: You can pre-design your kitchen and review many of your options. This gives you a chance to experiment with various combinations of cabinets, countertops and flooring at your leisure.

Keep an open mind: While it’s good to get a feeling for your preferences, you may discover something at the Design Center that captures you unexpectedly. There are some amazing choices, and the designers are experts at helping you make combinations that you will love to live with for years.

The more you plan ahead, the more time you will have to make any tougher decisions – and totally enjoy the rich variety of choices that await you when you visit Fulton Home’s Design Center.

Help your Child Redecorate – Room for Growth

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8829658_SAs you and your child plan and redecorate his or her room, it’s up to you as a parent to think about the future. Those dinosaurs or princesses that seem so appealing now will feel too juvenile in just a few years. Color favorites may also change or head to more subtle hues. Here are a few things to include in your plans to help the room redo hold up as your child gets older.

Paint is easy: Colors can be changed by simply repainting one or more walls. Try to keep the ceiling – which is harder to paint – a neutral tone. Look for temporary additions such as wall stickers or wallpaper borders rather than painted murals or wallpaper.

Linen options: Combine solid bed linens with a few theme items to make a room seem focused on the interests of your child without investing a great deal of money on a particular story or character. It’s easier to give away or recover a few throw pillows or shams than replace a full set of sheets and bedspread once your child has lost interest in the merchandise from a current children’s film or TV series.

Function: Your child may be too young for much or any homework at the moment, but it’s wise to plan for bookshelves and a desk or table in the future. Modular furniture makes it easier to transition over time.

Show and tell: Include a bulletin board, shelves or other space for your child to display items of current interest or any awards and recognition. It’s easy to change the contents of these items as your child matures.

Requirements: You may want to set up expectations when you initiate the redecorating process, such as keeping the room tidy. That way the redecorated room makes life easier for you as well as more fun for your child!